GERANIUM if you are looking for Pelargoniums, whose common name is Geranium click here

GERANIUM. Crane’s bill. Worldwide, temperate regions. This group is a good indicator of recent enthusiasm for flowering perennials. Not long ago, even reputable horticulturists used the name primarily to refer to the related genus Pelargonium, from southern Africa. Now there are dozens of species and hybrids of true Geranium, recognized and sought out enthusiastically by gardeners. These are mostly smaller, slender stemmed perennials with rounded, often dissected leaves and–unlike the pelargoniums—regular (wheel shaped) flowers. Colors include some vivid purples and blues and wild magentas, as well as more subtle shades. They have a variety of uses in the border, for small-scale ground cover and for containers and rock gardens, according to size and shape. Most are easily grown in sun or light shade and most soils, with moderate to regular watering. A few are even fairly drought tolerant, as described below. Hardy at least to 10^oF (often 0^o) except as shown.

himalayense (grandiflorum) grows about 1’ tall, eventually making broad carpets. It has dark green, deeply parted leaves and abundant 1½" violet blue blossoms, borne at the shoot tips in summer. The so-called variety alpinum, evidently a horticultural rather than a botanical form, is smaller and more compact, with even larger flowers. ‘Gravetye’ is of similar size but has smaller, more deeply cut leaves. The flowers are shaded with reddish purple around the cream-colored centers. ‘Birch Double’ is distinguished by fully double flowers.